When the first call from the stars comes, do we even dare to answer? Life changes for everyone in general—and for physicist Dean Matthews in particular—when astronomers detect a radio signal from a nearby star. First contact forces humanity to face hard questions, and do it fast. Every answer spawns new questions. Every solution sets in motion a new and more daunting crisis to challenge Dean, his family—and an expanding number of interstellar civilizations—for generations to come. This is the first book of Edward M. Lerner's InterstellarNet series.Book 2: InterstellarNet: New OrderBook 3: InterstellarNet: Enigma "e;One of the most original, believable, thoroughly thought-out, and utterly fascinating visions ever of what interstellar contact might really be like."e; —Stanley Schmidt, editor of Analog Science Fiction & Fact "e;…in InterstellarNet: Origins… Lerner proves he knows enough real-world, present-day computer science and economics to combine them into a wonderfully thought-provoking story.… Lerner's world-building and extrapolating are top notch."e; —SFScope "e;Lerner mixes physics, computer science, and economics into a series of very intellectually satisfying puzzles. Some of the puzzles involve understanding the alien, and some depend on understanding ourselves… A very satisfying read, especially for the intellectually inclined."e; —Mike Brotherton, author of Spider Star "e;Edward Lerner takes us from a first SETI detection to full scale interstellar net economics, with thrills along the way. No one had thought through what a working interstellar net would be like. Lerner has the professional heft to make sense of it, tell a story, and make us care. Good stuff, told in clear, quick prose. A groundbreaking job!"e; —Gregory Benford, author of Timescape
